WO2003039919A1 - Airbag arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag arrangement, comprising a gas bag, a gas generator for inflating the gas bag, a flexible chamber arranged within the gas bag, into which the gas from the gas generator flows, at least one outlet opening through which the gas is led into the gas bag in order to inflate the same and at least one ventilating opening, through which gas can escape into the environment. According to the invention, the ventilating opening (E) is arranged such that gas from the flexible chamber (2) can reach the ventilating opening (E) without passing through the outlet opening of the flexible chamber (2).

Description

 An air bag assembly

description

The invention relates to an airbag arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such an airbag arrangement comprises an airbag; a gas generator for inflating the gas bag; a flexible chamber arranged inside the gas bag, into which the gas flowing out of the gas generator enters and which has at least one outflow opening, through which the gas is further guided to a working space of the gas bag; and at least one ventilation opening, through which gas can escape from the gas bag into the environment.

The airbag of such an airbag arrangement serves to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a crash, for which purpose the airbag is inflated by means of the gas generator within a few milliseconds in order to form a cushion for an occupant to be protected, on which the occupant can strike. Since a vehicle occupant is not always in his normal (upright) sitting position while driving, but can, for example, be bent towards the airbag arrangement or bent to the side, it is necessary to minimize the risk of injury to an occupant due to the rapidly deploying airbag , In particular, this is done by controlling the gas flow that exits the associated gas generator of the airbag arrangement for the defined filling of the gas bag. From WO 99/28163 AI a device for influencing the deployment of a gas bag of an airbag module is known, in which a channel with opposing, front-side outflow openings for influencing the outflowing gas after ignition of the gas generator is arranged within the gas bag in the region of the gas generator. This channel can in particular be formed by a tether arranged within the gas bag. The guide channel is therefore a flexible chamber into which the gas flowing out of the gas generator first enters and by means of which the gas is introduced into the gas bag in defined, predetermined directions. As a result, the gas flow within the gas bag can be influenced in such a way that the load on an occupant who is outside of its normal position when the gas bag is inflated (so-called oop case) is reduced.

The invention is based on the problem of further improving an airbag arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning.

This problem is solved according to the invention by creating an airbag arrangement with the features of claim 1.

Thereafter, the vent opening is arranged in such a way that gas from the flexible chamber reaches the vent opening without passing through the outflow openings of the flexible chamber, and preferably only in such a way that the gas does not pass through the outflow openings.

Since the gases flowing out of the gas generator first get into the flexible chamber, which is arranged inside the gas bag and whose volume is significantly smaller than the gas bag volume as a whole, is created in the flexible Chamber when inflating the gas bag a very high pressure, which is significantly above the internal pressure of the inflating gas bag. Due to this very high pressure, which acts on the walls of the flexible chamber, there is a correspondingly strong gas flow through the ventilation opening into the outside (gas bag environment).

The solution according to the invention has the advantage that the very high pressure building up within the flexible chamber can be used to achieve an accelerated outflow of gas from the gas bag into the environment. This effect is of course increased if the deployment of the gas bag is hindered by an occupant who is outside its normal position. In this way, the load on an occupant upon impact with the airbag is alleviated in an oop case.

In this way, the contradicting requirements are reconciled that, in the event of a crash, an airbag should on the one hand be inflated very quickly and with as large a volume as possible, and on the other hand, in an oop case, the hazard to the occupant from the deploying airbag is minimized should .

According to the solution according to the invention, the pressure building up in the flexible chamber is used, on the one hand, to fill the gas bag (through the outflow openings of the flexible chamber provided for this purpose) with gas as quickly as possible in a defined direction, which results in a correspondingly rapid deployment of the gas bag and, on the other hand, the increased pressure within the flexible chamber, because of the arrangement of the vent opening provided according to the invention, causes gas to flow out into the surroundings more quickly, so that the load on a vehicle occupant hitting the gas bag can be reduced at the same time. This is achieved in that gas entering the flexible chamber of the gas bag from the gas generator can flow out through the ventilation opening without having previously flowed into an area of the gas bag located outside the flexible chamber (the so-called working area of the gas bag). For this purpose, the vent opening is advantageously arranged in a wall of the flexible chamber.

A flexible envelope arranged within the gas bag can be used to delimit the flexible chamber from the other areas within the gas bag, that is to say in particular the work area which serves to protect an occupant in the event of a crash.

According to one embodiment, this flexible envelope forms all the walls of the flexible chamber, completely enclosing it as the chamber - apart from the outflow openings. According to another embodiment, the walls of the flexible chamber are partly formed by the flexible envelope arranged inside the gas bag and partly by the envelope of the gas bag itself.

Depending on the design of the inner flexible envelope, the vent opening can be formed on the one hand exclusively by an opening in the envelope of the gas bag and on the other hand by corresponding openings in the flexible envelope serving for ventilation on the one hand and the envelope of the gas bag on the other. In the latter case, the openings in the flexible envelope on the one hand and in the envelope of the gas bag on the other hand are to be arranged in such a way that gas from the flexible chamber passes through the opening in the flexible envelope to the corresponding opening in the envelope of the gas bag, without the outflow openings flexible chamber (through which the gas would flow into the working area of the gas bag). The opening serving for ventilation in the inner flexible envelope and the associated opening in the envelope of the gas bag preferably correspond to one another in such a way that, when the flexible chamber is inflated or in the inflated state of the gas bag, they form a uniform ventilation opening as a whole. For this purpose, the two openings can overlap each other, for. B. by cursing with each other.

In order to achieve a defined positioning of each opening of the flexible envelope serving for ventilation to the respectively assigned opening of the gas bag, additional positioning means can be provided, e.g. B. by the flexible chamber and the gas bag in the region of the mutually associated openings connected to each other, in particular sewn.

The vent opening preferably has a cross section such that an explosive filling of the gas bag would not be possible within a few milliseconds due to the gases emerging from the vent opening. In other words, the proportion of the total gas flow that flows out through the vent opening is considerably smaller than those parts of the gas flow that are introduced into the gas bag itself through the outflow openings of the flexible chamber provided for this purpose. Because the outflow of gas through the ventilation opening into the surroundings is not intended to prevent the gas bag from being inflated, but rather to enable better adaptation in the event of an oop.

Of course, several vent openings can be provided in the gas bag, among which there can also be “conventional” vent openings to which the gas does not flow directly from the flexible chamber. The flexible chamber itself can be folded together with the gas bag to form a package that can be stowed in an airbag module, for which purpose the flexible chamber is formed from a foldable material. The flexible chamber can thus consist of one fabric layer or several fabric layers connected to one another.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible chamber is channel-shaped and has two mutually opposite outflow openings through which the gas can flow into the gas bag. For a defined control of the gas flow, the two outflow openings can have a different size, so that, for example, there is a conical shape of the chamber with two different outflow openings arranged on the end face.

In a further development of the invention, the flexible chamber is arranged and designed such that a section of the flexible chamber reaches the at least one ventilation opening due to the secondary gas flow induced when an occupant hits the gas bag, in order to reduce further gas outflow into the environment or prevent (depending on whether the corresponding vent opening is only partially or completely covered). In this way it can be achieved that after the impact of the occupant on the gas bag, the outflow of gas into the environment is reduced again. This is to prevent the gas bag from collapsing too quickly.

The opening of the ventilation opening (s) by the wall of the flexible chamber is prevented at the beginning of the inflation of the gas bag by the greatly increased pressure inside the flexible chamber. As the pressure inside the flexible chamber is higher than in the other gas bag areas Chen outside the flexible chamber, deformation of the flexible chamber, which could lead to a cover of the ventilation opening (s) is avoided.

In addition, additional (mechanical) means can also be provided, which counteract a closing of the ventilation opening by the flexible chamber. These means are preferably designed in such a way that when the airbag reaches a certain pressure, the ventilation opening is no longer obstructed.

The additional means can be formed, for example, by a tear seam, via which the gas bag and the flexible chamber are connected to one another and which tears when a predetermined load is exceeded. This is the only way to enable the flexible chamber to deform, which can lead to partial or complete closure of the ventilation opening (s). This load is caused by a corresponding introduction of force, caused by the internal pressure of the gas bag.

In another embodiment, the additional means are formed by an elongated connecting piece which connects the flexible chamber to the gas bag and via which the position of the flexible chamber depending on the shape (eg the state of deployment or intrusion) of the gas bag and can be controlled by the internal pressure of the gas bag.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear in the following description of an embodiment with reference to the figures.

According to another variant of the invention, the flexible chamber of the airbag arrangement forming a flexible diffuser is delimited by an outer surface made of flexible material, at least one in the outer surface Steering opening is provided, through which gas can be introduced into the gas bag in a direction away from the vehicle occupant to be protected when the airbag arrangement is installed as intended in a motor vehicle.

This prevents the vehicle occupant, particularly in a so-called oop case, in which the vehicle occupant is very close to the airbag arrangement outside of his normal sitting position, from being subjected to excessive stress by the deploying gas bag and being injured as a result. Rather, due to the conduction of the gas flow in a direction away from the vehicle occupant to be protected, the unfolding gas bag "searches" for a gap between the occupant and the vehicle environment in which it can develop.

The airbag arrangement configured in the aforementioned manner is particularly suitable for use in a side airbag module which serves to protect a vehicle occupant from an impact on the side body of a motor vehicle. Such a side airbag module is arranged and accommodated, for example, in a vehicle door or laterally on a vehicle seat.

The at least one steering opening is preferably arranged in the outer surface of the flexible diffuser such that the gas flowing through it into the gas bag to be inflated has a component in the direction of the side vehicle body and a component along the side vehicle bodies. It can thereby be achieved that the main unfolding plane of the gas bag extends essentially parallel to the side vehicle body and thus approximately perpendicular to the direction of action of the gas bag, which counteracts the impact of a vehicle occupant on the side vehicle body. The steering opening itself can, for example, be circular, polygonal or even elongated as an elongated hole and preferably faces the side of the motor vehicle body at an angle.

Depending on requirements, several steering openings can also be provided in the outer surface of the flexible diffuser. In addition, the flexible diffuser can each have a further outlet opening at its axial ends, through which gas can be admitted into the gas bag at right angles to the direction of action of the gas bag to be inflated. For this purpose, the flexible diffuser is preferably arranged in a motor vehicle along the vertical vehicle axis.

A particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that by reducing the load on a vehicle occupant in an oop case, the protection potential of the airbag arrangement in the normal case, i.e. with a vehicle occupant in a normal position, is not restricted. This protection potential is primarily determined by the ventilation openings in the gas bag, with which in particular the rate of deployment of the gas bag can be determined under normal conditions. The possibility of coordinating the protection potential of the gas bag on the one hand and its behavior in an oop case largely independently of one another results in greater freedom in optimizing the corresponding properties and simplifying the gas bag development.

In an oop case, the vehicle occupant is only displaced by the unfolding gas bag, but not directly burdened. Show it:

Fig. La - a view of an airbag for an airbag arrangement in a partially cutaway view, a flexible chamber being delimited by a flexible envelope being arranged within the airbag;

Fig. Lb - a cross section through the representation of Figure la;

Fig. 2 - the gas bag from Figures la and lb in the event of a vehicle occupant impact;

3 shows a modification of the gas bag from FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, a flexible chamber arranged inside the gas bag being delimited partly by the envelope of the gas bag and partly by a flexible envelope arranged inside the gas bag;

Fig. 4a - a deploying side airbag, a child outside of his normal sitting position hindering the deployment;

Fig. 4b - a deploying side airbag, wherein a normal occupant outside of his normal sitting position hinders deployment;

5a shows a schematic illustration of an airbag arrangement with an airbag, a flexible chamber arranged in the airbag in the form of a diffuser, which has a steering opening in its outer surface in order to direct the gas flow away from the occupant to be protected when the airbag is inflated; 5b shows a schematic representation of the function of the airbag arrangement from FIG. 5a;

5c shows a front view of a vehicle occupant located next to the deploying airbag arrangement;

6a to 6f - different embodiments of a steering opening for use in an airbag arrangement according to FIGS. 5a to 5c;

7a to 7c - a schematic representation of the interaction of the gas generator of the airbag arrangement from FIGS. 5a to 5c with the steering opening in the flexible diffuser.

A gas bag 1 of an airbag module is shown in the inflated state in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The airbag 1 is formed by an airbag cover 10, which consists of two fabric panels 11, 12 sewn together along a seam 17.

The airbag 1 has an opening 13 in the casing 10, through which a gas generator 3 is inserted into the airbag 1. The gas generator serves to release a gas through which the gas bag 1 can be inflated and brought into the inflated state shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b.

The gas generator 3 is additionally enclosed by a flexible chamber 2, the flexible envelope 20 of which is formed by two fabric layers 21, 22 sewn together along a seam 27. The chamber 2 therefore forms a kind of inner gas bag (flexible diffuser) that the gas generator gate 3 picks up. The flexible chamber 2 has an opening 23 corresponding to the corresponding opening 13 of the gas bag 1 for introducing the gas generator 3. These two openings 13, 23 are in the assembled state of the gas generator, for. B. closed by appropriate clamping plates.

The flexible chamber 2 forms a channel which is open at its two opposite end faces and has outflow openings 24a, 24b there. The gases flowing from the gas generator 3 into the flexible chamber 2 (diffuser chamber) finally pass through these two outflow openings 24a, 24b into the working chamber A of the gas bag 1.

The flexible chamber 2 forms around the gas generator 3 (in comparison to the volume of the working chamber A of the airbag 1) a volume which is significantly reduced and limited by the envelope 20 of the flexible chamber 2, which corresponds to a corresponding flow of the gases from the gas generator 3 results in a sharp rise in pressure. This pressure p acts on the envelope 20 of the flexible chamber 2 formed by the fabric layers 21, 22.

This leads in particular to an increased pressure (compared to a gas bag 1 without a flexible chamber 2) in the area of the outflow openings 24a, 24b of the flexible chamber 2 and thus to a changed flow characteristic when filling the gas bag 1. This flow characteristic can also be determined by the size ( the cross section) of the outflow openings 24a, 24b. In the present case, one outflow opening 24a of the flexible chamber 2 has a smaller cross section than the other, opposite outflow opening 24b. As a result, the flexible chamber assumes a conical shape with an essentially circular configuration of the outflow openings 24a, 24b. This allows the flow behavior of the in the work space A Gas bag 1 inflowing gases are specifically adjusted so that optimal conditions are guaranteed with regard to the protection of a vehicle occupant hitting the gas bag 1. In particular, the gas bag can be quickly filled into the gas bag areas which are particularly important for protecting an occupant.

Furthermore, the flexible chamber 2 can also be used to increase the gas flow which flows out of the gas bag 1 into the environment through a ventilation opening E. In the case of a gas bag for an airbag module, it is fundamentally necessary to allow the gases to flow away after the gas bag has been inflated. In the present case, a targeted intensification of this effect is intended to ensure that the gas bag 1, despite particularly rapid filling with gas, represents only the lowest possible risk for a vehicle occupant who is bent forward or bent sideways in the direction of the gas bag.

In the case of a side airbag, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, problems of this type can occur above all if a vehicle occupant in the area of the airbag module is leaning on the door panel of the corresponding vehicle or is sleeping in a rear seat. This is especially true for children. In such a case, the rate of deployment and the final volume of the gas bag are to be limited by the increased outflow of gas through the vent opening E in order to limit the risk of injury to the occupant by the deploying gas bag.

For this purpose, according to the invention, three openings 15 in the envelope 10 of the airbag 1 serving for ventilation are each assigned a corresponding opening 25 in the envelope 20 of the flexible chamber 2 for ventilation. The mutually associated openings 15, 25 in the envelope 10 of the gas bag 1 on the one hand and the flexible shell 20 of the chamber 2, on the other hand, overlap when the chamber 2 is inflated, so that in each case a uniform ventilation opening E is formed, through which gas can flow into the environment.

The ventilation openings 25 in the shell 20 of the flexible chamber 2 each have a cross-section that is several times smaller than the outflow openings 24a, 24b.

Due to the increased gas pressure p inside the flexible chamber 2, the flow of the gas to the outside (compared to a gas bag 1 without a flexible chamber 2) is increased. As explained above, this can reduce the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision with the gas bag.

It is crucial for this that the flexible chamber 2 limits the immediate outflow area of the gas generator 3 and thus causes a local pressure increase and that at least one opening 25 serving for ventilation is provided in the shell 20 of the flexible chamber 2, which opening allows the gas to flow directly into the Environment (through a corresponding opening 15 in the envelope of the airbag 1) is made possible without the gas first flowing through the outflow openings 24a, 24b provided for this purpose into the working space A of the airbag 1.

The positioning of the openings 15, 25 assigned to one another is achieved in that the cover 20 of the flexible chamber 2 is connected to the cover 10 of the gas bag 1 via seams 18 in the region of these openings 15, 25.

In order to prevent the service life of the inflated gas bag 1 from being shortened too much due to the accelerated outflow of gas into the surroundings, that is to say the gas bag collapsing too quickly, the flexible chamber 2 be arranged and fastened within the • airbag 1 in such a way that the envelope 20 of the flexible chamber 2 is pushed in front of the ventilation openings 15 in the envelope 10 of the airbag 1 by the secondary gas flow that occurs when a vehicle occupant hits the airbag 1, so that these openings 15 are completely or partially closed. This can be seen in FIG. 2, where the impact of the body part K of a vehicle occupant on the airbag 1, which is arranged in front of a side structure S of a vehicle, and the associated deformation of the airbag 1 in the corresponding area of the cover 10 are shown. This induces a gas flow (so-called secondary gas flow) within the gas bag 1, which leads to the deformation of the shell 20 of the flexible chamber shown in FIG. 2 and thus to the closing of the ventilation openings E.

At the beginning of the inflation of the gas bag 1 (by the primary gas stream emerging from the gas generator 3), this effect is avoided by the fact that a much greater pressure prevails inside the flexible chamber 2 than outside this chamber 2. This causes a deformation of the chamber by one Secondary gas flow counter.

In addition, it can also be provided that the envelope 20 of the flexible chamber 2 is additionally connected to the envelope 10 of the gas bag 1 via a tear seam 28 or another weak point such that the deformation of the flexible chamber 2 shown in FIG Vent openings E leads) as long as the tear seam 28 (weak point) is intact. Only when the tear seam tears under a certain load (triggered, for example, by a certain internal pressure of the gas bag) can the ventilation openings E described with reference to FIG. 2 occur. This ensures that there is always an increased outflow of gas at the beginning of the inflation of the gas bag 1 the ventilation openings E can take place through them in order ■ to limit the deployment speed and the deployment volume of the gas bag.

In an alternative embodiment, as indicated by FIG. 1b, the flexible chamber 2 can be connected via a connecting element 29, e.g. B. in the form of a cloth flap, additionally connected to the envelope 10 of the gas bag 1. The position of the flexible chamber 1 can then be controlled in a targeted manner depending on the shape of the gas bag.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the gas bag from FIGS. 1 a to 2 b, the difference being that the flexible chamber 1 is not completely through the flexible envelope 20 arranged inside the gas bag, but partly through the flexible envelope 20 and partly through the envelope 10 of the airbag 1 itself is formed.

For this purpose, the two fabric layers 21 ', 22' sewn to one another, which form the flexible sheath 20, are designed such that they only partially delimit the flexible chamber 2, and that the flexible chamber is otherwise provided by the two tissue plates 11, 12 Cover 10 of the airbag 1 is limited.

According to FIG. 3, provision is made in particular for a plate 12 of the envelope 10 of the airbag 1 to form the boundary wall of the flexible chamber 2 in the region of the ventilation opening E. In this respect, the vent opening E is formed exclusively by an opening 15 in the envelope 10 of the airbag 1.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show a possible arrangement of an airbag 1 designed according to the invention on a seat part, in particular a backrest part L of a seat, on a side of the motor vehicle facing the side structure S (for example a door interior trim). The airbag 1 is delimited by a cover 10 and has a flexible chamber 2 in its interior, which is partly delimited by a flexible cover 20 arranged inside the airbag 1 and partly by the cover 10 of the airbag 1 itself. A ventilation opening E is assigned to the flexible chamber 2, through which gas entering the flexible chamber from the gas generator 3 can flow into the environment. The vent opening E is arranged such that it faces the side structure S of the vehicle door when the airbag 1 is inflated.

FIG. 4a shows an airbag 1 inflated due to a crash in a state in which its unfolding is hampered by a child C lying outside the normal sitting position and leaning against the side structure S. As a result, gas flows outward through the vent opening E in order to prevent injury to the child C by the unfolding gas bag 1.

FIG. 4b shows a crash case in which the gas bag which has already been deployed restrains an occupant who has already been displaced to the outside by the side impact. Furthermore, according to FIG. 4b, the side structure S of the vehicle is displaced inwards (towards the vehicle interior) by forces F generated in a side impact S. As a result, the ventilation openings E facing the side structure are completely or partially closed. As a result, more gas is available within the airbag to restrain the occupant.

In the event of a crash, in which the side structure of the motor vehicle is shifted toward the occupant, even if one is outside of its normal sitting position, sensitive occupants - a rapid deployment of the gas bag is desirable in order to avoid a collision of the occupant with the vehicle structure.

Further details on load-dependent control of a ventilation opening of an airbag arrangement are described in DE 100 18 170 AI, to which reference is made in full in this regard.

FIGS. 5a and 5c schematically show a vehicle occupant I who has taken a seat on a vehicle seat with a backrest L and is located next to a part of the side vehicle body, namely a vehicle door T. To protect this vehicle occupant from a collision with parts of the vehicle door T in the event of a crash, an airbag arrangement is accommodated on the side in the backrest L, which has an airbag 1, a gas generator 3 arranged inside the airbag 1 for inflating the airbag 1 and one the gas generator 3 enclosing flexible chamber in the form of a diffuser 2 for the targeted introduction of the gas G flowing out of the gas generator 3 into the gas bag 1 to be inflated.

The diffuser 2 has a flexible cover 20, which is made of fabric and is designed as a jacket with an essentially oval base surface, which is open on each of its two cover surfaces, that is, forms outlet openings 24a, 24b there. The flexible diffuser 2 and the gas generator 3 are arranged on the backrest L in such a way that they each extend along the vertical vehicle axis z. The gases emerging from the lateral outlet openings 24a, 24b of the diffuser 2 are therefore directed upwards or downwards as they flow into the working space A of the airbag 1 essentially along the vertical vehicle axis z. In addition, a steering opening 24 is provided for guiding the gas stream emerging from the gas generator 3 in the jacket 20 of the flexible diffuser 2, which is directed obliquely towards the vehicle door T of the side vehicle body. Through this steering opening 24, the gas flow G is introduced into the working chamber A of the gas bag 1 to be inflated in such a way that the gas flow has a component in a direction y along the vehicle transverse axis (transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction x and transverse to the vertical z axis) and a component in the vehicle longitudinal direction x (corresponding to the direction of travel). The gas stream G emerging from this steering opening 24 thus has a direction away from the vehicle occupant I to be protected and at the same time supports the deployment of the gas bag 1 to be inflated in the vehicle longitudinal direction x to the front. Overall, the side outlet openings 24a, 24b and the additional steering opening 24 of the flexible diffuser 2 ensure that the airbag 1 unfolds essentially in a plane parallel to the door plane T, and thus perpendicular to the direction of action of the inflated airbag 1, which is a collision of the vehicle occupant I in the vehicle transverse direction y with which the vehicle door 1 is intended to prevent. In this case, it is particularly avoided that the gas flow G directed from the diffuser 2 into the gas bag 1 to be inflated has a component in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be protected, which component, in particular in an oop case, leads to injury to the vehicle occupant by the vehicle deploying in the direction of the vehicle occupant Gas bag could lead.

Rather, according to FIGS. 5a and 5c, the gas generator 3 with the diffuser 2 is arranged in the lateral region of the backrest L directly next to the vehicle occupant to be protected, and the gas bag 1 is deployed between the vehicle occupant I and the vehicle door T essentially parallel to the door plane with one additional Component away from the vehicle occupant towards the vehicle door T. An immediate deployment of the gas bag 1 in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be protected is hereby avoided, on the one hand by the prescribed direction of deployment of the gas bag 1 and on the other hand by the arrangement of the gas generator 3 with the flexible diffuser 2, which partially shield the vehicle occupants from the unfolding gas bag.

In the arrangement described in FIGS. 5a to 5c, the unfolding airbag 1 "searches" for a gap between the vehicle occupant I and the vehicle door T, in which it can unfold, but preventing an immediate deployment of the airbag in the direction of the vehicle occupant I. becomes. Rather, the vehicle occupant would only be displaced by the deploying airbag 1 in an oop case, in which he is too close to the vehicle door T when the airbag arrangement is triggered outside his normal sitting position, without being directly shot by the latter.

This function of the airbag arrangement shown in FIGS. 5a and 5c is illustrated by FIG. 5b. When inflated, the airbag 1 essentially spreads in the door plane, ie in the vehicle longitudinal direction x and along the vertical vehicle axis z. This main direction of propagation is perpendicular to the direction of action of the gas bag, which is intended to prevent the vehicle occupant i from colliding with the vehicle door T along the vehicle transverse axis y. The spreading of the gas bag when unfolding perpendicular to the above-described main unfolding plane (xz plane) is hereby avoided in that an unfolding of the gas bag 1 towards the vehicle occupant I is essentially excluded due to the above-described steering of the gas flow G by means of the diffuser 2. In the opposite direction, namely towards the vehicle door T, there is a greater deployment of the gas bag by the spatial Space is limited because the side areas of the backrest of a motor vehicle seat are located close to the respective side vehicle door.

FIGS. 6a to 6f show different arrangements of one or more steering openings on the man-shaped shell 20 of the diffuser 2, each in a perspective view from the front of a motor vehicle.

In Figure 6a, the arrangement of a steering opening according to the embodiment of Figures 5a and 5c is shown in a front view.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6b, a total of three steering openings 240, 241, 242 are arranged one above the other along the vertical vehicle axis z and offset in the direction of the vehicle transverse axis y in the casing 20 of the diffuser. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, the three steering openings 240, 241, 242 are arranged directly one above the other along the vertical vehicle axis z. In both cases, the plurality of steering openings 240, 241, 242 compared to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 6a means that the gas stream originating from the gas generator is directed increasingly towards the door T in one direction at an angle. According to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 6d, this can also be achieved in that the steering opening 24 ′ is designed as an elongated hole which extends along the vertical vehicle axis z.

FIG. 6e shows a steering opening 24 ″ with a rectangular opening cross section. FIG. 6f shows a flexible cover 20 of a diffuser, in which two steering openings 24 '''are provided at the axial ends of the flexible cover 20, these steering openings 24''passing directly into the lateral outlet openings 24a, 24b (see FIG. 5c).

It is clear from FIGS. 7a to 7c that the gas steering opening (s) 24 in the outer surface 20 of the diffuser can simultaneously act as a filter with regard to the rate of expansion of the gas stream G and counteract the manufacturing-related scattering of the gas stream G exiting the gas generator. The gas steering opening 24 shown in FIGS. 7a to 7c only allows that part of the gas flow G for direct entry into the gas bag to be inflated that passes within a certain solid angle around the direct connecting line V between the corresponding outlet opening 34 of the gas generator 3 and the center of the steering opening 24 runs.

Claims

Expectations 1. Airbag arrangement with - an airbag, a gas generator for inflating the gas bag, a flexible chamber arranged inside the gas bag, into which the gas flowing out of the gas generator enters and which has at least one outflow opening through which the gas is guided into the gas bag in order to inflate it, and at least one ventilation opening through which gas can flow out of the gas bag into the environment, characterized in that that the ventilation opening (E) is arranged in such a way that gas can pass from the flexible chamber (2) to the ventilation opening (E) without passing through the outflow openings (24a, 24b) of the flexible chamber (2). Airbag arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that gas entering the flexible chamber (2) from the gas generator (3) flows out through the ventilation opening (E), without first reaching an area (A) of the gas located outside the flexible chamber (2) - Sackes (1) to be poured. Airbag arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ventilation opening (E) is arranged in a wall of the flexible chamber (2). Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) is delimited by a flexible envelope (20) arranged inside the gas bag (1) with respect to the other areas (A) within the gas bag (1). 5. Airbag arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the wall of the flexible chamber is formed exclusively by the flexible envelope (20) arranged within the gas bag (1). 6. Airbag arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the wall of the flexible chamber is partially formed by the flexible envelope (20) arranged inside the airbag (1) and partially by the envelope (10) of the airbag (1). 7. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ventilation opening (E) is formed exclusively by an opening (15) in the envelope (10) of the gas bag (1). Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the ventilation openings g (E) is formed by an opening (15) in the envelope (10) of the gas bag (1) and an opening (25) in the flexible envelope (20). Airbag arrangement according to Claim 8, characterized in that gas from the flexible chamber (2) to the associated opening (15) in the envelope (10) of the gas bag (10) in the flexible envelope (20) serves for ventilation. 1) without passing through the outflow openings (24a, 24b) of the flexible chamber (2). 10. Airbag arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the venting opening (25) in the flexible sheath (20) and the associated opening (15) in the sheath (10) of the gas bag (1) in the inflated Condition the flexible chamber (2) overlap. 11. Airbag arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the two ventilation openings (15, 25) are aligned with each other. 12. Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the venting opening (25) in the flexible sheath (20) has such a cross section that an explosive filling of the gases emerging from this opening (25) Gas bag (1) with gas is not possible. 13. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) can be folded together with the gas bag (1). 14. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) is formed by at least one fabric layer (21, 22). 15. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) has two outflow openings (24a, 24b) through which gas from the flexible chamber (2) passes into further areas (A) of the gas bag (1) , 16. Airbag arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the two outflow openings (24a, 24b) form opposite end faces of the flexible chamber (2). 17. Airbag arrangement according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the two outflow openings (24a, 24b) have differently sized cross-sectional areas. 18. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) forms a guide channel for the gases emerging from the gas generator (3). 19. Airbag arrangement according to claim 8 and 18, characterized in that the venting opening (25) in the flexible sheath (20) is arranged in a side wall of the guide channel. 20. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) is arranged and designed such that a portion of the flexible chamber (2nd) induced by the secondary gas flow induced by the impact of an occupant on the gas bag (1) ) in front of the vent (E) to reduce or prevent gas from escaping into the environment. 21. Airbag arrangement according to claim 20, characterized in that during the outflow of gas from the gas generator (3), the pressure existing in the flexible chamber (2) counteracts a deformation of the flexible chamber (2), which leads to a closure of the ventilation opening (E ) would lead. 22. Airbag arrangement according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that additional means (28, 29) are provided which counteract a closing of the vent opening (E). 23. Airbag arrangement according to claim 22, characterized in that the additional means (28, 29) are controllable as a function of the gas pressure within the gas bag. 24. Airbag arrangement according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the additional means (28, 29) are designed as mechanical means. 25. Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the additional means are formed by a tear seam (28) via which the flexible chamber (2) is connected to the gas bag (1). 26. Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the additional means are formed by an elongated connecting element (29) via which the flexible chamber (2) is connected to the gas bag (1). 27. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling volume of the flexible chamber (2) is several times smaller than the total filling volume of the gas bag (1) reduced by the filling volume of the flexible chamber (2). 28. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas bag (1) is arranged within a motor vehicle such that the ventilation opening (E) points in the direction of a structural element (S) of the vehicle when the gas bag (1) is inflated and in the event of a crash-induced displacement of the structural element (S), it can be completely or partially closed. 29. Airbag arrangement with - an airbag, a gas generator for inflating the gas bag, a flexible chamber arranged inside the gas bag, into which the gas flowing out of the gas generator enters and which has at least one outflow opening through which the gas is guided into the gas bag in order to inflate it for the protection of a vehicle occupant, and at least one ventilation opening through which gas can flow out of the gas bag into the environment, wherein the flexible chamber is delimited by an outer surface made of flexible material, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that at least one steering opening (24) is provided in the lateral surface (20), through which gas (G) can be introduced into the gas bag (1) in a direction away from the vehicle occupant (I) to be protected. 30. Airbag arrangement according to claim 29, characterized in that the airbag arrangement is designed as part of a side airbag module for protecting an occupant from an impact on the side body (S, T) of a motor vehicle. 31. Airbag arrangement according to claim 30, characterized in that the steering opening (24) for introducing the gas (G) is arranged and designed in a direction which has a component in the direction (y) towards the side body (T). 32. Airbag arrangement according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that the steering opening (24) for introducing the gas (G) is arranged and designed in a direction which has a component in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x). 33. Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 29 to 32, characterized in that the main unfolding plane of the gas bag (1) extends substantially transversely to the direction (y) along which the gas bag (1) counteracts an impact of the vehicle occupant (I). 34. Airbanordnung according to any one of claims 28 to 33, characterized in that the steering opening (24, 24 ', 24' ') is circular, as an elongated hole or polygonal. 35. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steering opening (24) of the side motor vehicle body (T) faces obliquely. 36. Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 29 to 35, characterized in that a plurality of steering openings (240, 241, 242) are provided in the lateral surface (20) of the chamber (2). 37. Airbag arrangement according to one of claims 29 to 36, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) has an outlet opening (24a, 24b) at the axial ends of its lateral surface (20). 38. Airbag arrangement according to claim 37, characterized in that the outlet direction of the gas (G) from the outlet openings (24a, 24b) extends essentially transversely to the direction (y) along which the gas bag (1) is subjected to an impact by the vehicle occupant (I ) counteracts. 39. Airbag arrangement according to claim 30 and 38, characterized in that the gases (G) emerge from the outlet openings (24a, 24b) along the side motor vehicle body (T). 40. Airbag arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible chamber (2) is provided for such an installation in a motor vehicle that it extends along the vertical vehicle axis (z).